Tag Archives: Video and Streaming

Leading Direct-to-Consumer Sports Platform, HANG, Raises $9.2 Million Series A Round

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Hang Media, Inc., whose award-winning HANG platform (letshang.live) has drawn more than 22 million young viewers to interactively experience sports events alongside current players, all-time greats, and celebrities, has completed a $9.2 million Series A funding round. HANG will use the proceeds to accelerate product development and audience growth, expanding its leadership position in the rapidly growing direct-to-consumer sports media category.

The financing was led by The Operating Group, a holding company run by media, technology and finance executive Ken Cron. Joining the round were Clara Vista Investment Partners, whose partners include former NBCU Television Chairman Jeff Gaspin, former Credit Suisse TMT chairman Mark Simonian, and Bob Gold, former CEO of Ridgewood Capital; Ratner Ventures, an investment and consulting firm lead by Hank Ratner, the former CEO of the Madison Square Garden Company; Brown Angel Group; and Anthony Baranello, a private investor. Emergetic, LLC partners Mark Lieberman and Ron Frankel advised Hang Media on the transaction.

HANG, co-founded by CEO Jon Klein - the multiple Emmy- and Peabody-winning former President of CNN - and CTO Lorne Greene - CEO of Viva Creative, a leading live experience producer - enables fans to mingle with their heroes on livestreams across YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. Hundreds of current athletes, including Deebo Samuel, Micah Parsons, Odell Beckham, Jr., DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, have joined legends including Deion Sanders, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, and Clint Dempsey, and entertainers including Emmy winners Anthony Anderson and JB Smoove - in virtual parties offering up-close access to the stars. Each HANG averages 800,000 viewers, sixty percent of them in the 18-44 demographic that advertisers covet. HANG's fans engage with the platform an astounding average of one hour and twenty minutes. HANG's unique combination of broad reach and deep Gen Z engagement has drawn leading sponsors, including Toyota, Wells Fargo, MolsonCoors, Coca-Cola, Dave & Busters, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Smokey Bones, and Pernod-Ricard.

"Gen Z fans want sports viewing to be a communal experience, and they crave authentic, up-close access to their favorite personalities," said Jon Klein, HANG's co-founder and CEO. "That's exactly what HANG delivers - a livestreamed second screen experience, where the audience is as much a star as the athletes - which is why we've become a Gen Z magnet. We make fans' dreams come true, while delivering results that major brands cannot achieve anywhere else."

"We are excited to partner with the amazing HANG team," said Ken Cron, CEO of The Operating Group. "HANG has a deep understanding of the next generation fan, and the power of live sports to deliver true engagement in a fragmenting media landscape. By building community and interactivity into traditional sports viewing, HANG is transforming these everyday events into unique experiences that directly connect fans with their celebrity heroes to create lasting memories."

About HANG

Hang Media, winner of the 2023 Cynopsis Sports Award for best production innovation, is the leading fan-celebrity community, driving 800,000 views of each virtual watch party around major sports events including pro and college football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and cricket. Since HANG's founding in September 2021, more than 22 million young sports fans have come face-to-face with their idols ‐ star athletes, performers, and influencers - while everyone watches the game on their own devices. It's a dream come true for sports lovers, who get to have fun and frank conversations with their heroes about life on and off the field, play trivia contests, and sample products delivered by top sponsors including Toyota, Wells Fargo, MolsonCoors, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and others. Learn more: https://letshang.live/

About The Operating Group

The Operating Group is a holding company that partners with outstanding entrepreneurs to build the next generation of technology-driven businesses. Led by a team of accomplished operating and financial executives, The Operating Group takes an active approach in working with its partner companies. In addition to providing capital to fund growth, The Operating Group provides strategic, operational and financial support, helping founders navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing market and optimize business models to achieve success.

Hang Media, Inc., whose award-winning HANG platform (letshang.live) has drawn more than 22 million young viewers to interactively experience sports events alongside current players, all-time greats, and celebrities, has completed a $9.2 million Series A funding round. HANG will use the proceeds to accelerate product development and audience growth, expanding its leadership position in the rapidly growing direct-to-consumer sports media category.

Related link: https://letshang.live/

Toyota Partnership with HANG Media Targets Niche Segments, Generates Wide Audience

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Toyota and HANG, the leading direct-to-consumer fan platform, are deploying innovative media approaches this sports season that are driving audience levels higher than television, with deeper data insights and engagement. To introduce its first-ever Grand Highlander SUV to targeted Black and Indian expat consumers, Toyota and its agencies, Burrell and InterTrend, have leveraged HANG's unique second-screen experiences to power deep engagement across more than 1 million views during the Toyota HBCU NY Classic football game in September, and October's India-Pakistan Cricket World Cup match. They will be teaming up again for the Cricket World Cup Finals on November 19.

HANG virtual activations enable fans across the country and around the world to watch televised games alongside current players, all-time greats, and celebrities, mingling on camera, via text or on livestreams across YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. Fans stay on platform an astounding average of one hour and twenty minutes, asking questions, hearing inside stories, and getting pro tips.

For the HBCU NY Classic, Howard University graduate and Emmy nominee Anthony Anderson joined the watch party with Morehouse alums Isaac Keys, the actor and former NFL star, and Edwin Moses, the renowned track and field champion, from a Toyota suite at the game, while HBCU legends including NFL Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams beamed in from their homes. The India-Pakistan match featured Indian cricketer Unmukt Chand, who stars in a new Grand Highlander television spot aimed at the Asian-Indian consumer, along with fellow cricketers and Indian entertainers.

"Toyota and HANG are a natural fit," said William Moore, VP/Media Director with Burrell Communications Group. "HANG watch parties create a comfortable space for the whole family to enjoy an amazing experience - just like the first-ever Grand Highlander does. We're thrilled to have hosted an HBCU 'family reunion' for committed alums and students across the country, and to be making millions of Indian expats feel right at home during the Cricket World Cup."

"The entire media industry is desperate to engage audiences directly, and HANG has been ahead of the pack in understanding the power of eliminating the middleman," said Jon Klein, HANG's co-founder and CEO and the former president of CNN. "As humans, we all yearn to connect face to face. So we've been delighted to partner with Toyota to help spread the love."

About Toyota:

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next‐generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America, who have contributed to the design, engineering and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 20 electrified options, with more in showrooms later this year.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit https://pressroom.toyota.com/.

About HANG:

Hang Media, winner of the 2023 Cynopsis Sports Award for best production innovation, is the leading celebrity‐fan community, with nearly one million views of each virtual watch party around majors ports events including pro and college football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Since HANG's founding in September 2021, nearly 20 million sports fans have come face to face with their idols ‐ star athletes, performers, and influencers - while everyone watches the game on their own. It's a dream come true for sports lovers, who get to have fun and frank conversations with their heroes about life on and off the field, play trivia contests, and sample products delivered by top sponsors including Coca‐Cola, Wells Fargo, MolsonCoors, Dave & Busters, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Pernod Ricard, and others.

Join the fun at https://letshang.live

Toyota and HANG, the leading direct-to-consumer fan platform, are deploying innovative media approaches this sports season that are driving audience levels higher than television, with deeper data insights and engagement. To introduce its first-ever Grand Highlander SUV to targeted Black and Indian expat consumers, Toyota and its agencies, Burrell and InterTrend, have leveraged HANG's unique second-screen experiences to power deep engagement across more than 1 million views.

Related link: https://letshang.live/

Meridix Transforms into Stack Streaming After Joining Forces with Stack Sports

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Meridix, a leading provider of cutting-edge live streaming solutions, is proud to unveil its new identity as Stack Streaming, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth. This relaunch comes after the successful acquisition earlier this year of Meridix by Stack Sports, a prominent sports technology company. The strategic move promises to leverage the synergies between the two entities to enhance the live streaming experience for sports enthusiasts worldwide.

With a shared mission to transform the sports experience and elevate fan engagement through innovative media solutions, the strategic decision to relaunch as Stack Streaming embodies the united spirit and collaborative drive of these merged entities. This relaunch marks a significant step towards expanding the reach of live events and fostering active participation, further enriching the way sports are experienced and enjoyed.

Stack Streaming has seamlessly integrated into the Stack Sports ecosystem, further solidifying its position as a vital component within the sports technology conglomerate. As part of this integration, Stack Streaming has taken center stage in powering the "Area Code Games," a prominent Stack Sports event. The seamless integration demonstrates the commitment to elevate sports experiences and engagement to unprecedented heights.

Stack Streaming will continue to build upon Meridix's strong foundation as a pioneer in live streaming services, offering a diverse range of solutions tailored to meet the needs of sports organizations, schools, teams, and broadcasters. Customers can expect even greater levels of service, reliability, and innovation as Stack Sports and Stack Streaming work together to optimize the live streaming experience.

"We are thrilled to announce our rebranding as Stack Streaming and becoming a full services asset in the Stack Sports ecosystem," said Tyler Feret, GM of Digital Media. "This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our journey. By joining forces with Stack Sports, we aim to transform the sports streaming landscape and deliver unparalleled experiences to fans, athletes, and coaches around the world."

Stack Streaming's advanced technology ensures seamless, high-quality live streaming of sporting events across various platforms and devices. With a user-friendly interface, interactive features, and robust analytics capabilities, Stack Streaming empowers sports organizations to engage with their audiences on a whole new level.

"We see tremendous potential in Stack Streaming and see this step forward as a way to solidify our commitment to revolutionizing sports media," said Brandon Shangraw, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Stack Sports. "Together, we will create an ecosystem that increases participation and transforms the sports experience for all stakeholders - from athletes and coaches to fans and broadcasters."

Stack Streaming's rebranding comes with a new look and feel to better reflect its integration into the stack sports ecosystem while preserving its commitment to innovation, reliability, and customer-centricity.

For more information about Stack Streaming's live streaming solutions, please visit https://www.stackstreaming.com/.

About Stack Streaming:

Stack Streaming, formerly known as Meridix, is a leading provider of live streaming solutions for the sports industry. With a history of excellence in technology and customer satisfaction, Stack Streaming is committed to revolutionizing sports media and enhancing the live streaming experience for fans, athletes, and coaches worldwide.

About Stack Sports:

With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations. Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars - Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

Meridix, a leading provider of cutting-edge live streaming solutions, is proud to unveil its new identity as Stack Streaming, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth. This relaunch comes after the successful acquisition earlier this year of Meridix by Stack Sports, a prominent sports technology company.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

HANG Doubles Down on Programming and Brand Engagement for Women’s Sports, Expands Sales and Marketing Team with Industry Vets Sara Gotfredson and Ashley Rutledge

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Fresh off attracting more than 1 million viewers to its NCAA Women's Final Four viewing party, HANG, the award-winning fan-athlete community, is welcoming two women steeped in sports and digital marketing to lead a deeper push into women's sports programming, brand engagement and marketing.

With nearly 20 years of digital, traditional media and brand building experience with ESPN, the Walt Disney Company, and CBS Sports, Sara Gotfredson brings to HANG the proven expertise of her Trailblazing Sports Group, a mission based, female-founded sports marketing company focused on elevating women's sports via storytelling and partnerships. While at ESPN, Gotfredson worked with numerous Fortune 100 brands creating powerful partnerships which are recognized as game changers in female-focused marketing investments.

Ashley Rutledge has spearheaded hundreds of storytelling brand relationships and strategic team building initiatives at Snapchat, Facebook and CNN. She is recognized for creating innovative digital opportunities for traditional brands including GE, Diageo, Macy's and Unilever. Her career spans branding and digital media businesses in the US and Canada.

"Of the tens of millions of fans who flock to HANG's second-screen experiences, half are women, and we're committed to connecting them directly to the iconic personalities they feel most passionate about," said Jon Klein, HANG co-founder and CEO. "Sara and Ashley are unmatched in understanding the power of women as purchase decision-makers, and how to harness that energy on behalf of brands via sports."

Gotfredson and Rutledge will collaborate closely with HANG's Head of Marketing and Customer Success, Liz Poerner, and Head of Sales Evan Messinger.

About HANG:

Hang Media, winner of the 2023 Cynopsis Sports Award for best production innovation, is the leading celebrity-fan community, with nearly one million views of each virtual watch party around major sports events including pro and college football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Since HANG's founding in September 2021, nearly 20 million sports fans have come face to face with their idols - star athletes, performers, and influencers - while everyone watches the game on their own TV's.

It's a dream come true for sports lovers, who get to have fun and frank conversations with their heroes about life on and off the field, play trivia contests, and sample products delivered by top sponsors including Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, MolsonCoors, Dave & Busters, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Pernod Ricard, and others.

Join the fun at https://letshang.live, or contact LeslieAnne Wade at Lwade@wademediamanagement.com for more information.

Fresh off attracting more than 1 million viewers to its NCAA Women's Final Four viewing party, HANG, the award-winning fan-athlete community, is welcoming two women steeped in sports and digital marketing to lead a deeper push into women's sports programming, brand engagement and marketing.

Related link: https://letshang.live/

Orange Blossom Classic Partners with HANG Media in Creating National Watch Party Featuring Exclusive Connections to Conversations with Star Athletes and Celebrities

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- One of the country's most historic college football games, the storied Denny's Orange Blossom Classic presented by Ready Life, is poised to continue shining light on its bright future. Fans are invited to join a national watch party, which includes the opportunity to discuss an array of topics while viewing the game with sports heroes and celebrities through online channel, HANG Media.

Kendra Bulluck is the executive director of the Orange Blossom Classic Committee (OBC). She is one of only a few women who own rights to a major sports property. Today she is thrilled to announce a partnership with New York-based, HANG Media. Together, they will provide a live game co-viewing experience in an effort to bring HBCUs and the community together. Fans will have the opportunity to mingle with HBCU legends and supporters, which includes current NFL players and entertainers. In addition, the partnership creates a new and national media platform for brands to connect directly with consumers through bespoke association with the OBC.

Founded in 1933 ran consecutively through 1978 and after a 43-year hiatus, the Orange Blossom Classic was re-established by Bulluck in 2021. Its historic importance in the college football landscape and HBCU experience is significant. 2023 marks the third year of the Orange Blossom Classic and the big game will be held on Sunday, September 3 at Hard Rock Stadium. With fans, alumni, HBCU students, and sports enthusiasts ascending on the city of Miami Gardens, this year's theme has been dubbed "The Reunion."

"At its inception, The Orange Blossom Classic created opportunity and inspiration under strict segregation laws. To see this property return on new stages with new platforms in what we trust is a new media world, is an honor and a responsibility," said Jon Klein, HANG ceo and co-founder. "We are thrilled to be working with Kendra and her team to elevate conversations around the Orange Blossom Classic and increase its connections with real people and supportive brands who honor and value the HBCU missions of education and opportunity."

"As the buzz around HBCUs continues to grow, we are proud to partner with HANG in hosting the watch party of the year. We are so proud to bring fans, legendary football players, and entertainers together in what's sure to be a memorable experience for all. Bringing members from across all spectrums of the community together is our top priority. This star-studded watch party is sure to do just that," stated Kendra Bulluck, Orange Blossom Classic Committee executive director.

Denny's Orange Blossom Classic Presented by Ready Life will also be televised on one ESPN's family of networks.

About Orange Blossom Classic:

Founded in 1933 by the son of Florida A&M University's president, J.R.E. Lee Jr. The inaugural Orange Blossom Classic welcomed 2,000 fans to the "blacks-only" ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, where FAMU beat Howard 9-0 and successfully established the foundation of HBCU classics. After a 43-year hiatus, The Orange Blossom Classic was re-established in 2021 with a mission to enhance the exposure of Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

In its second year, the OBC attracts thousands of fans, alumni, school members, and family members, highlighting interest in HBCUs and their roles in educating aspiring professionals and developing future leaders. However, its main goal remains to raise scholarship funds for the participating schools for years to come, helping to support the knowledge and experience offered by the discipline, commitment, and dedication it takes to be a Historically Black College & University student.

About HANG:

HANG is the leading celebrity-fan community, with 13+ million users taking part in virtual watch parties and IRL gatherings around major sports events including pro and college football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Fans come face to face with their idols - star athletes, performers, and influencers - while everyone is watching the game on their own TV's. It's a dream come true for sports lovers, who get to have fun and frank conversations with their heroes about life on and off the field, play trivia contests, and sample products delivered by top sponsors including Coca-Cola, Dave & Busters, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Pernod Ricard, Twang, and others.

Join the fun at https://letshang.live.

One of the country's most historic college football games, the storied Denny's Orange Blossom Classic presented by Ready Life, is poised to continue shining light on its bright future. Fans are invited to join a national watch party, which includes the opportunity to discuss an array of topics while viewing the game with sports heroes and celebrities through online channel, HANG Media.

Related link: https://letshang.live/

Stack Sports to Acquire Meridix to Simplify the Broadcast Experience for Sports Organizations

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, a global leader in modern sports technology, announced it has added Meridix, an innovative video streaming platform with the industry's most flexible technology, to the Stack Sports ecosystem. "Combining Meridix with Stack Sports is going to be a huge value add for our Partners and truly simplify the sports experience," said Jeff Brunsberg, Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer at Stack Sports.

More than 30,000 club and league administrators, 200 National Governing Bodies or Professional Franchises, and millions of families trust Stack Sports to power their sports journey. The planned addition of Meridix will add a fast-growing and innovative technology to the growing ecosystem of solutions offered to sports organizations to simplify sports. Expanding services to coaches and families further strengthens Stack Sports' position as the industry leader in the $44 billion global youth sports market.

Meridix is an unlimited streaming platform for any size team or organization. It simplifies covering sports LIVE at any level, including youth, high school, college, and pro. Complete with HD video, audio streams, scores, stats, and easy-to-use monetization tools, Meridix offers the best experience for sports organizations. Get started for FREE today at Meridix.com/signup.

"Stack Sports is the only company that can marry a best-in-class registration and data layer with world-class end consumer applications," said Jeff Young, CEO at Stack Sports. "We truly believe that connecting these two technologies will accelerate our vision to grow participation and transform the sport experience worldwide."

This combination of Meridix and Stack Sports will allow organizations to have an end-to-end video solution from pre-event marketing through Sports Connect, to the field of play, all the way through athlete highlights, truly simplifying the experience for parents, coaches, and administrators.

"Meridix has truly been a game changer for our tournament," said Blake Whittle Pontiac Holiday Tournament. "Thanks to their innovative and robust platform, our tournament has brought in additional revenue we never thought was possible through their pay-per-view feature. Their support is top notch and the broadcast quality is so good. We look forward to streaming our tournament on Meridix for years to come."

"With its mission to increase participation and transform the youth sports experience, Stack Sports is truly aligned with Meridix's vision to simplify the broadcast experience,'' said Tyler Feret, CEO & Founder at Meridix. "We are confident the combination of Meridix's tools for coaches, administrators, event operators, athletes, parents, and fans with Stack Sports' industry-leading ecosystem of sports technology will create real value for our partners and for sports as a whole."

About Meridix:

Meridix is Live Streaming Made Easy. One of the fastest-growing video streaming and broadcast platforms in sports, with over 200,000 events streamed already, from any device, it ensures your fans don't miss a moment of the action. The easy-to-use monetization tools have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars for sports organizations using your choice of pay-per-view, ticketing, season passes, and instant downloads. It is FREE to get started and works for ALL sports!

Start Streaming Today at https://www.meridix.com/ .

About Stack Sports:

With over 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company powers the sports experience through world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations, including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, USA Lacrosse, and NFL Flag, rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations. Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and focused on growing participation in sports through Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth Technology, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development.

To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

Stack Sports, a global leader in modern sports technology, announced it has added Meridix, an innovative video streaming platform with the industry's most flexible technology, to the Stack Sports ecosystem. Meridix is an unlimited streaming platform for any size team or organization. It simplifies covering sports LIVE at any level, including youth, high school, college, and pro.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/